The English Distillery in Roudham was named World’s Best Single Malt (Small Batch) at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards for its English Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead.

This is the brand's second major world title in three years after it also won World’s Best Single Malt in 2024 for its English Sherry Cask, solidifying its reputation among the world’s elite whisky producers.

Andrew and Katy Nelstrop (Image: English Distillery)

"We are genuinely still in disbelief," Andrew Nelstrop, managing director of The English Distillery, said.

"To win a World’s Best Whiskies title once was extraordinary.

"But to do it again, and in such a short space of time, is something neither we nor my father could have dared to dream of when he and Ian started this amazing journey 20 years ago.

"It’s an incredibly proud moment for our whole team and for English whisky as a whole."

The English Distillery can be found in Roudham in Norfolk (Image: English Distillery)

The distillery, run by Mr Nelstrop and his wife Katy, was founded by his father James Nelstrop, who set out to create world-class single malt whisky in England with the help of Scotch whisky master distiller Ian Henderson.

"Winning World’s Best Single Malt in 2024 with our Sherry Cask was a milestone," Mr Nelstrop added.

"To now follow that with World’s Best Single Malt (Small Batch) for our Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead really shows that we are achieving the consistency and quality we strive for every single day."

Katy Nelstrop, marketing director, added: "It still hasn’t quite sunk in.

The Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead took home the top prize and is available to buy now (Image: English Distillery)

"The World Whiskies Awards represent the very pinnacle of global recognition, so to be honoured again is just incredible."

The award-winning English Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead is available online at The English Distillery’s shop and costs £75 per bottle.

However, with global demand expected to surge following this award win, availability may be limited.

© Eastern Daily Press